Free software/open source software in a Win32 environment

The OpenCD project is brilliant in design and execution, but is large in scope and therefore moving slowly. The final result will be a powerful free software advocacy tool. Our local LUG group is attending an annual technology show next week, and we decided to put together a CD to introduce the normal W32-based tech user to the notion of quality free software. This is in addition to the normal distribution of a couple hundred DemoLinux or RedHat or Mandrake CDs. In the next few days, I will be creating an ISO image including most of the following W32-based software.

All of the following software is free for anyone to use. Nearly all is also open source. The point is to give a wide variety of quality software on a single CD without overwhelming someone, so he feels comfortable browsing through software he may never use. Hopefully, he will either replace or extend proprietary software packages he currently uses.

Few people will use all of this software, but most people will find at least one software package useful for their needs. All of this software is reasonably mature or very
mature--I have not used all of it; this list is condensed from othersimilarlists with a wider scope, but I may have missed some. Programming languages and tools are not included because it is assumed programmers are somewhat familiar with how to go to Google, research, download, and install things like
Perl, PHP, Ruby, Python, and so forth. Yet higher-end packages like Apache are included because the audience will be tech-savvy users, perhaps curious about seeing Apache for the first time. Packages like Celestia are included because they are so beautiful to see.

For people that are inspired by this sort of idea, the OpenCD site contains the language, standards, and spirit that I would like to meet, and the project could use your help.

For the present, here is my question. On the list below, what have I left off? If I have given an inaccurate/incomplete description of a software package you know, let me know, since this list will accompany the CD.

Tcl together with the Tk toolkit makes a nice, multiplatform alternative to M$ scripting environments. More information at www.tcl.tk. It's simple, quick to learn, has tons of existing code, and for many years has been oriented towards working in a very cross-platform way. Ports exist to all major unixes, windows, DOS, VMS, Macos (classic and X), etc... The Tk toolkit is a great way to easily create graphical apps.

Crack Attack isn't 3D Tetris, it's a clone of the popular console game Tetris Attack. There's a game called Xbl or XBlockOut that is 3D tetris (which was first released as Block-Out, I think). Both are fun. Crack Attack uses the OpenGL libraries to render blocks and has some 3D effects, which is probably where the confusion came from.

I would only put one of K-Meleon or Pheonix on the CD, to avoid confusing users with too many similar programs. I have no idea where development stands on each one, so I can't recommend which.

And an anal-retentive licensing note - "links" really should be to a site that you (or the people distributing the CD) maintain your/themselves, otherwise you have to provide the 3 year written offer of source code. It's probably best to just distribute the source with the binaries, which makes it simpler for everyone involved. Also, not everything on that list is GPLd, so make sure that all the licenses are on the CD.

Licensing &tc: As I am working my way through the list, I find the advice from piman above quite useful. I also had to eliminate Pop-up stopper, Exact Audio Copy, and Irfanview because of license issues which could probably be worked out in a long-term project, which this is not. I'm including Phoenix, 7-zip, and XaoS, although I could've chosen the alternatives K-Meleon, PowerArchiver, and fractint just as easily... Perhaps if this project gathers momentum, we can make alternatives available.

GNUSoftware: The gnusoftware project is entirely different in scope from this idea--they are specifically promoting GNUware, and this is a little wider in scope, yet narrower than TheOpenCD project.

GPL: Nearly everything on this list is GPL, those which are not will be appropriately linked and licenses included.

vICQ, TkAbber...: I'm looking at the other suggestions, yet. The final list, links to source code and licenses, and some documentation will be posted at the link above. Thanks for your help so far.